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Undone

This was my newsletter post* from a couple days ago; turns out this particular newsletter was met with a highly unusual number of unsubscribes. Is it the gun control stuff? The queer stuff? Or just being political at all? I have no way of knowing. But this is how I feel, so I’m putting it up on the blog too.

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I can’t muster a newsletter post this time, folks, I’m sorry. As a queer person I am too undone by the news from Orlando, and by the hatefulness of our political sphere. I do see signs of hope, in the way people have rallied in support of LGBTQ communities in Orlando and elsewhere (and as some of my clients have pointed out–that at this juncture the police came to protect the gays, not harass them), and at Senator Chris Murphey’s 15 hour gun control filibuster. And that a community of people who have had to organize and fight steadily for decades to gain and protect basic rights are now on the case of gun control. As the FB meme puts it: “these queens get shit done!” But I’m still struggling. I leave in a few minutes to go to a fundraiser dance party at Eugene’s gay club, The Wayward Lamb, raising money for #Orlando. That feels like the most important work to do at this moment. That, and signing petitions and calling your senator to limit the sale of assault weapons and other firearms.

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*Be sure and subscribe to the newsletter if you haven’t done so already. Do it from the popup box you see at the lower right when you scroll through posts.

About Karen Kelsky

I am a former tenured professor at two institutions--University of Oregon and University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. I have trained numerous Ph.D. students, now gainfully employed in academia, and handled a number of successful tenure cases as Department Head. I've created this business, The Professor Is In, to guide graduate students and junior faculty through grad school, the job search, and tenure. I am the advisor they should already have, but probably don't.

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Comments

Undone — 6 Comments

Are you kidding me? That’s the kind of post that would MAKE me a subscriber if I wasn’t already! A business with a heart (and a conscience). You go, Karen. We stand united against bigotry in all its forms. I would also note that at its best, Alt/Post-Ac work at TPII is about cherishing difference: we help each and every client claim who they are and be seen and valued for their unique gifts. It’s affirmative work.

Just FYI, I found it rather cringeworthy (the post, I don’t subscribe to any newsletters). Too many clichés grouped together (LBGT, “FB”, meme, a hashtag and political stuff to crown it all). Of course I don’t give a damn about any LBTG or black movements, mainly because I don’t see the differences between people at all and I put more weight on work towards scientific advances. I found it unworthy of something tied to academia. So there you go… an explanation on why this happened.

I’m going to assume that you aren’t sea lioning and genuinely respond because I love what you do here at TPII and support you!

I found it incredibly disrespectful that you would use Orlando as a call for gun control. Somehow “gun control” and “gun free zones” were going to protect gays. They didn’t. As a result, many gays have now decided that their best option to protect themselves is to purchase guns. You, on the other hand, want to take that away. I’m not sure what gated community you live in, but the common folk do have to worry about violence and have few means of protecting themselves. Police only respond once you’ve been shot. You, because of your political affiliation (not because of the evidence), want to take that away.

Here is the ultimate question for you to ponder. If guns are the problem, why have homicide rates declined by half over the last decade at the same time that gun ownership has doubled? Even if you took away every single gun homicide, the U.S. would still have higher murder rates then any developed country (except Estonia).

Delete this post, if you choose. But ask yourself this; whose interest are you protecting? Are you genuinely protecting your friends, or those who are interested in protecting a narrative…

As a fellow (gender neutral) human, I love you Karen, but it’s time for you to stop the ultra left liberal narrative on things that aren’t your area of expertise. Every time you do, I cringe and you cut your audience/business by half. Even moderate liberals such as myself cringe when you do.

I haven’t read the newsletter in question, but given your response to Kalani, its worth letting you know that I had bought your book and followed your site, and had considered utilizing your services after completion of my PhD. Given your stated beliefs, and that you would criminalize me for actions that are both lawful and constitutionally protected, it would be lunacy to financially support your zealotry in any fashion.